Mahama Ayariga, the MP for Bawku Central, is asking for fair compensation for the families of those reportedly slain by military forces in Bawku.

Mr. Ayariga claimed that the money would help the deceased's heirs take care of their dependents.

“If you look at the people, somebody has been killed and he has been survived by three wives, somebody has been killed and has been survived by two wives, somebody has been killed and he had three children. So that is why I say that they must be compensated so that those of us who have to take care of these families, we have the wherewithal to take care of what they have left behind,” he is quoted to have said on JoyNews on Saturday.

Although the MP asked GHC500,000 in compensation for each of the families of the deceased in his plea to CHRAJ, he stated that the human rights organization will have the last word over the worth of the deceased people's lives.

According to reports, ten persons were murdered by armed military personnel who were trying to keep things peaceful after a series of irregular shootings in Bawku. When a young child attempted to hide near a mound of dry grasses that eventually caught fire, he was burned to death in the process.

Inhabitants angrily accused the military of intentionally killing civilians.

Mr. Ayariga, in a press statement condemned the act, saying it is an “infliction of mortal casualties on innocent civilians.” He has promised to “leave no stone unturned” as he fights for redress for the victims.

In a response, the Ghana Armed Forces refuted the allegations, saying that its officers only sought to neutralize some six unidentified armed men who were involved in sporadic shootings in Sabongari, a suburb of Bawku. It said some people who sustained injuries in the process had been sent to the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.

However, Mr. Ayariga believes that the people of Bawku are incapable of accusing the military wrongfully, saying that his account of the incident was from an eyewitness. He believes the military is refusing to admit wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, some security analysts believe that in the wake of tensions from Burkina Faso near the northern border, further investigations need to be conducted into the killings of the ten people.